suffer turbulent weather or be pleased with fair To us who are accustomed by prudence and constancy to weary out adversity it self it belongs to remain stedfast with dexterity to oppose the present to divert dangers wait for better Conjunctures and above all not to assure our selves of our new Enemies nor despair of our ancient friendships By such conceptions those reasons being rooted up out of mens minds which before had been imbued with the contrary the Peace was approved by the Venetians both by necessity and prudence At the same time nevertheless they perswaded the Duke Carlo to remain firm in the Maxims of the common Interest and they always fortified themselves with greater Forces till that amidst the confusions and obscurity of objects the bent of Affairs might be better discerned The French understood the reasonable sense of their Confederates and withal feared to lose by this example the imagination and hopes of new friendships They dispatched therefore in extraordinary Ambassage to Venice Monsieur de Chasteauneuf and to Turin Monsieur de Buglion to the end that excusing things past by the necessity of domestick interests they should give assurance that Italy should not be abandoned to the will of the Spaniards should promise assistance in case of invasion or attacque to both the Confederates and to heal the present wounds should propose to the Republick to procure for them of the Grisons the liberty of the passages and entertain the Duke with the hopes of Kingly Titles and other vain advantages But the Venetians listned with little credit to such projects for France having with the conclusion of the Articles lost the Authority and Keys which he formerly had in Rhetia it was no more in his power to shut or open the Passes to his friends And therefore France had nothing else to alledge in excuse but the domestick disturbances which threatned to subvert that Kingdom The Nation nevertheless in general were inraged at the indignity of the Treaty and those that designed the ruine of Richelieu failed not to publish the reproofs accusing him that betraying friends he had sold the glory and advantages of the Crown to Strangers and that with the worse consequences because it yielding to the Spaniards in the largeness of Territories and the sagacity of Negotiation there was no way to even the scales but by friendships But now said they who will any more relye upon France if the observance of Treaties shall not depend upon the integrity of the Princes or the eternal Maxims of the State but upon the venal arbitrage and fickle interests of some Favourite Minister Was it not enough then to have offended the King of England ruined Mansfelt cast off the Protestants of the Empire lost Breda and with it in a manner Holland if Italy were not abandoned the Valteline and Rhetia oppressed and the best and ancient Friends of France were not discontented Is it to be thought that the friendship of Spain is to be preferred before a base and unworthy Peace a friendship always full of jealousie and trouble and now so much the more to be lamented as it by the Treaty makes such breaches into reputation and interest as by no length of time can be repaired by Arms Let the Cardinal then rejoyce in his secret Negotiations so long as there shall remain no more famous Monuments of his Authority and Name than to have razed the two strongest Pillars of the Kingdom Faith and Friendship But the Cardinal deaf to reproaches and the gainsayings of all maintained the Treaty and sollicited the execution of it It is necessary to know what were the more internal motives of the Kingdom to so important an emergency and what were the successes that followed France to say truth was at the point of being in a combustion for division was no more restrained to Religion and its Partisans but had invaded the Court it self the Cardinal having the chiefest part in it There is no Nation that more hates and suffers Favourites than the French In civil dissensions they serve some for a pretext and others for a shelter War and Peace depend upon their will the Factions are either destroyed or promoted Kings make use of them sometimes for a shadow and oftentimes also for a help The Cardinal Richelieu above all others hath taught the rule to govern himself in such manner that making his own and the Royal Interest one and incorporating the Favour with the Authority of the Soveraign the one though there was a difference could not be distinguished from the other nor could that be offended but the other was wounded The sterility which seemed to be in the Marriage of King Lewis helped forward this boisterous storm and there was thereby confounded together as is usual in the Court of France jealousies interests passions and loves also It was expedient therefore to marry Gaston then Duke of Anjou and afterwards of Orleans the only Brother of the King and by his Marriage the hopes of the Succession and the fortune of the Kingdom being espoused the minds and eyes of the Court and Nation were turned towards him He as young in years and inconstant by nature suffered his affections to be governed by the Mareshal d'Ornano who Governour of his Childhood and now Director of his Youth by complying with him in the luxurious desires of that lascivious Age had so much power with him that sometimes setting him against the Favourites sometimes making merchandize of his inclinations to his own advantage with various Fortune passing through a Prison rose afterwards to be Mareshal of France with considerable power and no less riches Amongst the Propositions of Marriage the most secret counsel excluded that with strangers that the Duke might not provoke unnecessarily mens minds to bold attempts and unseasonable hopes to get and possess the Crown by the trust and reliance upon Foreign Forces The Queen-mother promoted that alone with the Heir of the House of Monpensier which to the splendour of the Blood Royal added a considerable portion of Goods Jurisdictions and also of Soveraignty with the Principality of Dombes The Faction of the Guises abbetted her in it because the Mother of this young Princess by a second Marriage was passed into that Family and the Cardinal de Richelieu concurred in it thinking to retribute to the Queen the gratitude of that favour which he acknowledged from her Authority and Protection Others desired to give him the Daughter of Conde and Ornano who was said beyond measure enamoured on the beauty of the Princess her Mother promoted it and moved the will and inclinations of the Duke to it But the Web was woven with yet greater Intrigues for many with the discord of the Royal Family desired to introduce an alteration in Affairs for as much as the favour of the King and the authority of the Government falling upon Richelieu alone others were unsatisfied at it and aspired to their own advantages by jostling out the chief Minister and changing
keep alive through a confidence with him the Party in Italy but also to oblige him in such sort that he should not give countenance to the Hugonots in the thoughts which Luines had to take out of their hands the places wherein having been established in the time of the Minority rendred that Sect equal to the Royal Authority if not superiour The Marriage therefore upon the going of the Prince Cardinal Maurice to Paris was concluded of Christine Sister to the King with Vittorio Amadeo Prince of Piedmont nowithstanding that the Spaniards with much money scattered amongst their Partisans in the Court had endeavoured to hinder it The design nowithstanding against the Hugonots was for a while deferred because some disturbance rising in the Kingdom Luines having not so suddenly been able to resolve whether to deliver the Queen-mother from her Confinement or Conde from his Prison was most for his interest Whereupon the Duke of Espernon a man of an inflexible spirit habituated formerly in favour an object rather than a party in the flatteries of Court receiving discontent because in the Council the precedence of the Keeper of the Seal had been decided against him and in the nomination to a Cardinals Cap Gondi the Bishop of Paris had been preferred before his own Son retires to his Government of Metz where communicating counsels with the Mareschal of Bouillon he enters into the Party to take away the Queen from Blois which he secretly effected bringing her first to Lochies and afterwards to Angoulesme The King came to Tours and the Kingdom was every where in Arms when the Bishop of Lusson whom Luines secretly gave leave to quit Avignon having a more than ordinary ascendant upon the mind of the Queen concluded an agreement in which with the pardon of Espernon and his Followers was promised to the Queen her self the Government of Anjou with that of Angiers Chinon and Pont de Cé But de Luines not wholly relying upon this new-made friendship takes Conde out of Prison and enters into familiarity with him which causing suspicion in the other Party he both pursues new Intelligences and Levies of Arms. THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICK OF VENICE An. Dom. 1618 THE FOURTH BOOK THE calm and quiet of the rest of Europe had till now rendred more considerable the successes of the Wars in Italy and the Treaties worthy of greater observation but mens minds began also elsewhere to be distracted for War creeping like a Cancer corrupted all the parts of Christendom with mutations of States alterations of things memorable Sieges great Battels Actions famous though very often unjust with so much slaughter of People and calamity of Countries that the present time might justly be called the Age of Iron and Blood The beginning of such grievous mischiefs brake forth in Bohemia with the commotion of the Kingdom which was believed the cause and no less warranty of the Peace of Italy It will not therefore be besides the purpose to deduce the motives and successes of it because no otherwise than in the Conjunction of the greater Planets upon whom the most notable Effects depend the influences of the one alter the dispositions of the other so in the affairs and linked interests of Princes the accidents whether good or bad of the one part are felt to be weighty in the other King Ferdinand did now appear adopted by Fortune to the hope and succession of the Empire because the Line of Maximilian the Second though numerous having no Heirs the Masculine Issue failing the Dominions devolved to the other Line of Carlo that was his Brother upon which Right Ferdinand having already received the Crown of Bohemia that of Hungary was now to be joyned to it to make way for him to the Imperial also and in his person to unite the Soveraignty and States of the whole House in Germany But there wanted not oppositions and difficulties jealousies awakening in the stranger Neighbours through the apprehension of so great a Potency and doubt creeping into the hearts of the Germans themselves to fall at length under the yoke of a base slavery if the Empire should be perpetuated in the Austrians and in particular if they should confer it on Ferdinand in whom the power of all the hereditary Provinces coming to be united they did believe they should strengthen for ever after that Chain with which for a good while already they had found themselves begirt To the Policy of Princes and to the Zeal of the People Religion equally served for a pretext and motive because Ferdinand brought up in the Catholick Faith detested all sorts of errour and therefore by how much not succeeding to his Father he found the Patrimonial Countries incumbred with false opinions so much the more with signal piety had he applied himself to promote the true Worship with such success that at last those Provinces rejoyced to be restored to the bosom of the ancient Religion But this was not effected without some sort of severity so that many not to leave their errours constrained to abandon their Country and sell their Estates lived elsewhere in poverty and discontent and others droven away by force and their Estates confiscate saw them not without rancour possessed by new Masters In the Empire therefore in which the Religion no less than the Genius loves liberty there appeared great apprehensions that where Ferdinand should get the power he would exercise the same reformation and impose a yoke so much the more heavy by how much standing in need of money and the Councils of Spain he should be governed by the Rules and Maxims of that Nation so hateful to the Germans Frederick Elector Palatine young in years but of a high mind troubled more than any other with those thoughts visiting for that purpose the Electors had diverted them from the Election of a King of the Romans remonstrating that if the succession of the Austrians were not interrupted now that the right Line failed there would be no reason to hope for it when it should fall to Ferdinand who being upheld by foreign Force and having Issue would for ever establish the Imperial Throne in himself and his posterity Nevertheless not thinking it an easie matter to gain the Empire for himself or any of the Protestant Electors he offered it to Maximilian Duke of Bavaria for whom concurring the Votes of the three Protestants and a fourth of the Archbishop of Cologne his Brother the Election would be secure But the Ministers of the Pope and those of Spain opposed that Proposition and therefore besides private interests stirred up those of that Religion which the Empire going out of the House of Austria could not wanting so strong a support but extremely suffer Great advantages being offered to Bavaria not to accept the invitation the proceeding vanished which notwithstanding the Election of a King of the Romans was deferred The Empire tossed to and fro amidst these Negotiations Bohemia falls into commotion In that Kingdom as it
famous station of Liberty and Greatness I dare assure you that in all Ages the Generosity of the Bohemians shall be memorable that having flung tyrannical Government out of the windows hath caused the glory to spring out which from this Kingdom will easily diffuse it self to the Empire and though some appearance of violence hath been in it necessity and piety will excuse the fact There is no more place for repentance or pardon counsel or discourse avails no more but only concord and constancy The Lot is drawn Liberty or the Hangman if Conquerours we shall be just free and Princes if overcome perfidious perjured and Rebels A little served to stir mens minds incensed of themselves to thoughts of Novelty for if that flourishing Kingdom in its soil rise as it were into War with fertile and almost continued Hills the people are no less accustomed to float amidst perpetual provocations of Religion and Liberty It was then decreed to shake off the yoke by the consent of all and if there were any that in their minds were against it yet knowing they were not able to resist that universal violence not to make themselves suspect they made a shew to adhere to it with greater vehemence To carry on the Government a Magistracy of Thirty with title of Directors was chosen But what had happened at Prague was no sooner divulged through the Kingdom but all was in revolt drawing also the importance of Lusatia and Silesia Provinces annexed The advice being brought at the Emperours Court there was a great division of opinions and counsels Matthias by plausible means letters and perswasions together with something besides of concession desired to reduce the Bohemians to their obedience and Gleselius strengthened him in that thought out of the consideration that coming to Arms the War was to be directed by Ferdinand in which if the authority of the one might be rendred suspicious to the Emperour the practices of the other would be no less troublesom against which from the time when in his younger years he was carried to the Government of the rebel Provinces of Flanders he had retained a certain aversion in his mind Nor was the Cardinal in his judgment a jot deceived for Ferdinand that inclined more than to pleasures to the management of Arms abetted by the counsels and favours of the Archduke Maximilian and of the Ambassadour of Spain no sooner saw the Emperour levy some few Souldiers for necessity but he asked the Command of them Matthias troubled to deny him resolves to grant it but with such restriction that forming a Council of War of his Confidents of which notwithstanding the King should be chief and limiting the Authority he left him no more than the shadow All this was attributed to Gleselius to whom was imputed besides venality in affairs little propension to the concord of the family and greatness of the Austrians a connivence and superabundant facility towards the Hereticks accusations which proceeded principally from the hatred conceived against him by the Ministers of Spain because to his utmost keeping the King and Archduke from the knowledge of the foreign affairs he excluded them also from those of the Empire and in the affairs of Italy his inclination to Peace had carried him to oppose their designs Amongst the means studiously thought on to take him out of the way that appeared too sacrilegious to stain the Purple of a Cardinal with blood and in the City of Vienna to kill as it were upon the Altar Bishop thereof It was then resolved to arrest him Prisoner not regarding the affection and authority of Matthias which were his only refuge not without hope and design after the thing done either to pacifie the Emperour by flatteries or curb him with apprehensions So being one day called to a Council in the Archdukes Quarter where the King was with Ognate he was seized as he came in by D'Ampiere and Prainer and put into a close Coach with a hundred Horse for a Guard hurried apace toward Inspruch Although the Princes themselves went to communicate it to Matthias with many pretexts of Religion of connivence advantage to the house and of his own service it is not to be said how much he was moved at it because touched in the apple of the eye of his authority and affection it drove him to the extremity of passion nor could he withhold himself both when awake and in his dreams from crying out with a loud voice that Gleselius should be brought back to him again There was an opinion that he had some thoughts to cast himself into the arms of the mutined Bohemians for revenge But the Cardinal Dietrichstein a person of very great credit did in some manner pacifie him bringing into his Chamber the King and the Archduke to ask pardon for the transport with protestations not to intrude themselves into his Authority or Government The Emperour required that promise in writing but it was agreed that he should be contented with the word only and the little while he lived he passed in continual apprehensions and melancholy not without calling to mind Divine Judgments which to him from his Cousin retributed the spoil of that Authority which he but a few years before had with great violence extorted from his Brother Rudolphus And it in truth seems that the imprisonment of Gleselius had set wide open the Sepulchres of the Austrians for Anna the Empress and Maximilian dyed presently after and were soon followed by others The Prisoner was found to have neither money nor goods and that absolved him from the common report of corruption and avarice he being discovered to be poor who under the benign influence of the favour of the Prince it was believed had enjoyed Mines and Treasures He was at last put into the Popes hands who exclaimed that the Dignity and Priviledge of the Church was violated to the end that he might judge him for the faults committed being mixt of Religion and State But after a year or two being restored to his liberty he lived quietly as he had been known to be innocent During these present domestick contentions of the Austrians the Bohemians had made great advantage of that time in furnishing themselves with arms money and friends Amongst the first that ingaged in this troubled affair was Ernest Count of Mansfelt natural Son of Peter Ernest as famous for the mischiefs done with small Forces and the height of courage for the space of many years to the Austrians as the Father had been remarkable in the Government of the Low-Countries and several other imployments for his fidelity to Spain He being of an ambitious spirit desiring by notable actions to make good to the World his spurious birth after having passed through many Charges amongst the Austrians renouncing the Romish Religion made it his ambition to close with Fortune in the greatest dangers He was at that time in Piedmont in service of the Duke who placing the principal security of his own
Negotiation and some through the conjuncture of time although they awakened jealous thoughts in some yet they seemed not of importance to disturb the Peace under which some not remembring that one ring is not a Chain yet a Chain is formed of many rings thought themselves secure and others happy But by the death of Henry the Fourth France falling into a long minority the Spanish Ministers judged the conjuncture fit to reap their advantages with Counsel and with Arms. And to say truth the occasion in Italy seemed favourable because the French as hath been said being excluded and now fallen under the government of a Child and of a Woman and Ministers divided in their private Interests the Country was believed so low in courage and strength that if at any time strangers in the attempt to subdue it had gotten great company both People and the Princes themselves would now place their safety and greatest glory in yielding their obedience Some by a pecuniary Interest were already dependent upon Spain others by blood and others by pretensions The Popes taken up in the care of Holy things or distracted in the concerns of their own Family side always with the strongest so that the safety and protection of Italy was now committed to the Venetians alone Nevertheless it was judged that they also would prefer Peace before all things either from the experience of the hazards and events of former Wars or because Monarchies being subject to various changes and accidents it was believed that time might produce such successes from which they thought their Republick as standing upon a more sure foundation exempt and free But in this general Quiet and Peace of Europe there wanting rather pretexts than minds to disturb Italy it was abundantly supplied by the death of Francis Gonzague Duke of Mantua hapned in the flower of his Age about the last of October 1612. He left for posterity to his House Mary yet at Nurse to the Estate two Brothers Ferdinand a Cardinal and Vincenzo and to Italy a sad series of Calamities and Troubles By his Marriage with Margarite Daughter of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy it was generally believed that the Peace of Italy would have been established composing thereby the pretensions of those two Houses upon Monferrat They had their ancient Original from the very root of the succession to that State from the Paleologhi and the Gonzagui and after many litigious proceedings Charles the Fifth Emperour as Soveraign of the Fief did rather foment than extinguish them by a certain sentence whereby the possession was adjudged to Mantua leaving undecided to Savoy the right of certain donations of Lands and of the Dowry of Blanche Wife to Charles the First Duke of Savoy which though it exceeded not 80 Thousand Crowns yet with the interest of a long time came near to a Million In the Marriage aforesaid it was studiously endeavoured to ballance all Interests besides the Dowry in Money and Jewels the Father ceding in favour of the Daughter and her Posterity the Revenues of Monferrat and there was a line to be drawn which was to distinguish the confines much intangled with Piedmont upon some lands whereof those of the house of Gonzaghi having a right they renounce it and made a mutual exchange of several places for common convenience and advantage But the affections of Princes being not to be bound by those Bonds which among private men pass for Sacred designs ceased not nor were pretensions extinguished For the Line they could never find a point where to begin it but that of the life of Duke Francis being cut they fell back into discord and the confusion of their former Interests Margarhite called the Infanta according to the custom of Spain in regard of her Mother Daughter of the Catholick King Philip the Second who in her young days was left a Widow in the house of Mantua retained very lively affections for that of her Father whose maxims and sence were so deep imprinted in her that she played that part which was most pleasing to the Savoyards Carlo Emanuel was then Duke of Savoy who it may be said had with much virtue adorned and as much ambition embroiled two Ages He was born in the 61. year of the last and with him at a birth Generosity Courage and the desire of Dominion In the 19. year of his Age he succeeded his Father in the Estate important for its scituation plentiful by its Fertility and for its extent considerable but not proportionable to his mind Being invironed with two so great powers as are France and Spain he could not but know how difficult it would be to make conquests and as impossible to keep them Nevertheless the divisions of France having opened a way to the surprisal of the Marquisat of Salusses and other great attempts he espoused together with the Daughter of Philip the Second a partiality to that Crown and the Maxims thereof But the assistance of his Father-in-Law who had no mind to make him greater towards the Confines of the Milanese not being such as hope and desire had suggested to him he at last concluding a Treaty with Henry the Fourth more to the advantage of the Spaniards than himself adheres to France and enters with Henry as a sharer in these designs which that great King upon firm foundations had laid against the Austrian Monarchy His treacherous and sudden death discharges him leaving Carlo in the grief of his lost hopes and in fear of the revenge of Spain which nevertheless having pacified by sundry means and the Hostage of one of his Sons since he had not been able to make his profit with the great Ones he now purposes to disturb his Neighbours of more moderate power The death of his Son-in-Law gives him the occasion and on the first notice of it he dispatches as his Ambassadour to Mantua the Count Francisco Marteningo and afterwards the Marquess of Lucerna to console his Daughter She then publishes her self with child to suspend a while the succession of Ferdinand the Cardinal and leave the Government fluctuant and uncertain Soon after the Prince Vittorio Amadeo her elder Brother arrives and at the same time the Count Guido di San Giorgio a Subject by birth of Monferrat but by discontent with his own Prince becomes a near Confident of Carlos was by frequent goings and comings driving on a secret Treaty at Milan The Mine at last was sprung for Vittorio perswades his Sister with her little Daughter to return home to her Father or at least to retire to a neutral place as might be Milan and if in consideration of the Child not yet born her going out of those Countries were not approved he insinuated that there was Monferrat where she might remain with more decency That it was not fit that a young Princess should remain amidst the said memorials of her past contentments and under the eye of the Cardinal her Kinsman as young in years as jealous of the
in the affairs of Savoy the Republick to be jealous above all things of their own and others liberty they took pleasure to entertain and distract her in and by so troublesom an exercise This is certain that if upon the continual complaints of the Venetians the Emperour inclined to the remedy those of the Archdukes side did always infeeble his earnest and interposed delays In order to this it fitly happened that John Prainer dispatched by the Emperour as Commissioner to punish the insolences and find means that the Treaty of Vienna might be executed was when he came to Ferdinands Court hindred from going forward as if it were not seemly to yield while in Arms to Conditions and during a Siege about those places of refuge where the Vscocchi were freely received where their booties were kept and the spoils together with the dignity and patience of the Commonwealth were publickly exposed to sale The Garrison in Fiume and other places were now increased with German Souldiers who now and then assisted the enterprises of the Pirates with ingaging the Colours and name of the Austrian Princes who authorizing their transgressions rendred the enduring of them more difficult and unworthy of the Venetians In the beginning of the year one action did much exasperate mens minds too much disturbed already For Antonio Giorgio who governed the Isle of Pago for the Venetians seeing Scrisa just over against him where was Carlopago a little Fortress but a nest of the most infamous amongst the Pirates suffered himself to be deluded by a false Treaty to attempt its surprise and with six Barks only and a few Souldiers without the General Veniero his knowledge was by concerted signs drawn on but no sooner disbarked but being received and environed with an Ambuscade left his life there with eighty others part Souldiers and part Inhabitants of Pago whom he had brought along as to a sure Victory His own Standard with anothers Colours and one Bark remained in the hands of the enemy This success was variously interpreted by both parties but in effect both reckoned themselves offended though amidst so many dissatisfactions there was occasion given for Treaty for that the Lieutenant of Pisino by his Letters to some of the chief Venetian Ministers proposed an interview of Commissioners but Giorgio Justiniani Ambassadour for the Republick at the Emperours Court remonstrated That they were no more to treat about adjusting differences or confines but the faith of the Princes That the Treaty of Vienna was in force concluded by the Imperialists and executed by the Republick That to gratifie Matthias Prisoners were set loose Guards removed but on the other side what was there practised but cruelty and rapine That complaints had several times been made to the Emperour and Archduke of Islands laid waste the Sea infested whole Territories given to spoil of Colours taken Gallies surprised Patricians killed some intrapped by fraud and others drawn in by treason On the other side doth there appear any Forces garrisoned in Segna according to the agreement Whence have the Uscocchi been driven away or where punished Are their Barks burnt Are the Confines the Subjects Navigation and the Sea free It is not denied but that the Emperour commands the Archduke dispatches Ministers but let it be to execute the old agreements and not to contest new ones That the Republick knowing common happiness to consist in Peace was ready to forget what was past but as much resolved not to endure loss and invasions for the future These reasons were admitted by the Emperours Ministers but being opposed by the Archdukes with various delays gave occasion for new accidents which hastned open War Lorenzo Veniero General of the Venetians brought up from his youth in Sea-affairs could not bear the memory of the Gally surprised and the insult of Giorgio killed He observed Novi to lye before him a place of the Jurisdiction of Frangipani upon the Sea-coast and situated high defended by some of those Cannon which being taken on the Gally aforesaid were brought in thither by the Count Niccolo now Governour of Segna in triumph and memory of the action Resolved therefore to cancel that indignity and to get them again by force disimbarking men with Ladders and Petards surprised it by night In the assault and fury of the Souldiers all fell by the Sword who offered to resist All things were given to spoil but the Church-furniture and sacred Vessels not spared in that military licence were upon severe inquisition restored The Town with such Barks as then there was burnt the Salt-pans destroyed the Governour made Prisoner but above all the Cannon of the Gally were brought away They on the Archdukes side aggravated this success as a manifest provocation of War forgetting as is usual to them that do the wrong the insults which the Venetians had suffered who on the other side maintained That they had no reason to respect the Walls and Dens of the Uscocchi more than they had preserved the Towns Waters Ports Confines and Territories of the Republick their Gallies and armed Ships which were their floating Fortresses But Ferdinand not satisfied with such reasons sequesters the Revenues of the Subjects of the Commonwealth which lay in his Country obliging the practice of the same towards those of Ferdinand On the Borders of Istria they prosecute Hostility both the Vscocchi alone and often in conjunction with the Archdukes Souldiery whereupon some going out of Pogdavia made prey of the Cattel of those of Poppechio who were not long without making themselves amends A while after about 800 Germans Souldiers and Natives returned from attempting an Incursion of more moment The Corsi who guarded the Confines of the Republick falling into their Rear forced them to abandon their booty and retire upon the Carso whence going deeper into the Country they spoiled Cernicale and Cremosich Towns belonging to Benvenuto Petazzo a turbulent Fellow and who above all others troubled the Confines The Vscocchi made an attempt upon Veglia but were repulsed and Felice Dobrovich scouring that River with armed Barks destroyed and sunk many of theirs It was now foreseen that going thus on from irruptions to offences it would quickly come to an open breach Some Princes therefore interposed themselves and in particular Pope Paul to Matthias to the Republick and to Ferdinand contributed his incessant intreaties for Peace complaining that two of the principal powers of Christendom should fall to Wars and kindle a fire on the Frontiers and under the view of the Turks who alone would enjoy the warmth and profit His considerations to the Republick were That having with so much wisdom quenched the War of Piedmont they would with the like zeal for publick good pass by offences and revenge To the Austrians he represented The blemish that redounded to their splendour of their August name from the protection of Piratical Thieves and Robbers That the Uscocchi being now rendred the abomination of the World they should give up to common
quiet in the disturbances risen in Bohemia gave him leave to raise 2000 Souldiers and paid them for him for certain months that he might carry them to the Bohemians Carlo over and above exhorts the Venetians to contribute to that cause some secret assistance but the Republick did not believe that it was fit for them to ingage themselves further than in their own defence and in the common Liberty of Italy Mansfelt was gladly entertained by the Bohemians and honoured with the Charge of General of the Artillery he with la Tour became the chief Parties in the Revolt which to say truth could not be more furiously conducted than by those two Chiefs one of which passed for desperate and the other for one of a most turbulent spirit Mansfelt presently possesses himself of the Town of Pilsen and there remained now no other of consideration for the Emperor but Buduais where Carlo Count of Buquoy raised some Troops Such was the Praeludium of so many other calamities which have since involved Germany in many miseries which were too much threatned her by a fierce Comet which about the end of the year appeared towards the North. And if it be true that at some great Crisis Nature it self is moved the fall of a Mountain which burning a whole People alive overwhelmed Plurs the greatest City of those parts might be reckoned as a prodigious Prognostick of the unhappiness of Rhetia And to say truth both for the business and the Arms the affairs of Bohemia and the Grisons had a sufficient resemblance because that in this very year the minds of that people continued stirred and implacably disordered It happened that the Venetians having published and by the means of Anthonio Antelmi solemnly sworn the Alliance formerly concluded with the Cantons of Zurich and Bern the agreement in consequence was that in order to the Union of the three Leagues with the Helvetians the passages should be open for them but the Spaniards opposed it with so much violence that some certain Horse raised under pay of the Republick by Colonel Sciavaleschi were obliged to make a stand finding that the Ministers of Spain themselves kept their own Guards upon the passes doubting lest connivence or the venality of those of that Country should let them through To this business being afterwards added fear and force Feria the new Governour of Milan to incommodate Rhetia and stir their minds stopped the passage of Merchandize and Gheffier observing though there was no Minister of the Venetians in those parts that in the Agnedina the Election of a Ministrat who is a temporary Head of their Government after some contests with the shedding of blood was fallen upon a person of that Faction presented a certain Writing in which feigning to controul the Treaties of Spain struck more to the quick upon those of the Republick proposing that all other Alliances might be cast off except that with France The Proposition pleased not the Commons and so much the less by how much the Creditors of many Pensions from the Crown requiring payment of them he offered to satisfie only one of them which was refused by the people with insufferable scorn Nevertheless their minds were generally wavering because the chief among them making Merchandize to their own profit of the publick evils made themselves powerful with adhering to Strangers and the poorer sort vexed with this corruption and the severity of their judgments did not willingly bear the yoke For which cause taking Arms on a sudden in several places they furiously ransacked the Country not knowing who was to be their enemy and uncertain of their own designs At Zernez they obliged Rudolpho Pianta to run away who with his Brother Pompeo declared Partisans of the Austrians rendred themselves under that protection even as odious to all as feared by many and to him it was principally imputed to have been one of the sowers of discord so that they would have put him to a cruel death if he had not made his escape by flight They run then to Coira whence Gheffier who by his proceedings was not distinguished from a Minister of Spain resolved to retire in haste to Maianfelt and as if the fury of the people had been capable of any order or discipline they deliberated to establish a Tribunal in Tosana composed of Judges Catholick and Protestants who should proceed against those who should have sold to Strangers the weak of the Country Under this censure many principal men perished Giovanni Baptista Zambra by the hand of the Hangman Niccolo Rusca the Chief Priest of Sondrio dyed under Tortures the Pianta's were banished upon grievous punishments and Giovanni Bishop of Coira the City it self being fined in the sum of 15000 Crowns Molina Interpreter of France Native of Rhetia was in like sort banished and to Gheffier was intimated the leaving his imployment but he hoping that good order would be so much the less durable amongst that people by how much they wearied themselves to introduce it took time to give advice of it to the Court An. Dom. 1619 whither the Grisons also dispatched Letters and Deputies to inveigh bitterly against him There being also for the same cause of the Grisons some dissention risen in some Cantons of the Switzers to quiet it as is the custom rather with conference than force a Diet was called in Baden where Gheffier appearing taxed the Venetians to have fomented this last revolution in which there appeared many of their party But the Ambassadours of the Grisons who were at this meeting maintaining the liberty of their actions and judgments against those who had betrayed the Country imputed to himself to have with all Art given incouragement to the present turbulencies But for a proof of their indifferency they had recalled those few Troops of their Nation who served the Venetians and had condemned in a mulct of money some Captains who were not so ready to obey them But the Pianta's to nourish the divisions scattered Letters and Libels and having recourse to the Governour of Milan to obtain only 30000 Crowns therewith to arm their friends and adherents they promised to rise and subject the Valtolina to him which being subject to the Grisons but inhabited by people more civil not willingly suffered the heavy yoke of Democracy so corrupted This passing not without the Grisons knowledge caused that to keep the principal Post they sent some Souldiers which were very useful to suppress also the disturbances made by those of Como in the dispute about Jurisdiction over certain places ANNO M.DC.XIX Many sollicited the Venetians to send a Minister to conclude a League quickly during the predominancy of those most inclined to their Party but they willing to observe the issue of so strange accidents not to confound things rather than contribute to their remedy forbore it It quickly was made manifest that the people in their affection had but a short space betwixt their flood and ebb for they presently fell back
into the contrary party Gheffier and the Spanish Minister conspiring by concert to stir up a new Revolt with money and other endeavours raised some of the Commons under the pretext to abolish the new erected Courts of Justice and to restore the Bishop About Coira there happened betwixt the Parties a bloody Encounter and according to the reciprocation of force sometimes making faulty and sometimes giving authority another Tribunal was erected in that Town which abolished the acts of that of Tosana called back the banished and punished the Judges themselves The oppressed had recourse to the Venetians but instead of assistance they received Councils for a sincere reconciliation for in effect in that confusion of affairs they knew not how to design any advantage and foresaw that the most powerful at last would reap the benefit Nevertheless in the Agnedina the tumult began of its own accord and taking Arms spread it self through all the Country with so much violence that the new Judges fled from Coira and those formerly banished absented themselves anew In Cicer twenty nine Ensigns being assembled they established a Tribunal of sixty six persons who taking a review of things past were to act in such sort that Gheffier should not stay in Rhetia All that had been decreed by the Judicatory of Tosana was authorized by this and what had been acted to the contrary made void It was enough for Feria Governour of Milan to have put the Country into confusion content at present to foment the disorder underhand and whilst all the Ministers of the Monarchy of Spain were assembled upon the occurrences of the Empire to apply himself to what in their absence at this time happened Matthias the Emperour after a long sickness of mind no less than of body expiring in the month of March left for the Election of a Successor minds divided according to the difference in Religion The Catholicks animated by the Offices of the Pope and upheld by the promises of the Spaniards inclined to Ferdinand as one who being taken notice of for piety might also be able with puissant Forces to maintain the Dignity and Religion On the other side it hath been said how much the Protestants abhorred him Whereupon the Palatine laboured all he could that the Diet might be deferred the better to concert his exclusion and the others were willing enough to observe the issue of the present Revolts taking for pretext that the stirs in Bohemia ought first to be quieted and afterwards in the general calm of the Empire choice made of a Head to the satisfaction of all But the Archbishop of Mentz to whom as Chancellor of Germany the Charge belongs proclaims a Diet at Francfort and at last the Electors appeared there either in person or by their Deputies although to hinder it there were some that infested the High-ways and kept them in a manner besieged The Bohemians rejecting the Letters by which Ferdinand offered clemency pardon confirmation of Priviledges with Liberty of Conscience and all that which they could pretend stir up those that were far and near Upper Austria unites with the Rebels a few Catholicks in vain contradicting and declare to govern themselves by themselves till it should be decided who ought lawfully to succeed pretending it did belong to Albert Brother of the Emperour deceased notwithstanding his renouncing to it in favour of Ferdinand And the Lower would not have acted otherwise and in particular Vienna which was pestered with Heresie if Ferdinand being then there had not with his authority and presence withheld it In Moravia the States being assembled in Bruna and having sounded one anothers minds and estimated their Forces follow the same resolution in favour of the Bohemians notwithstanding that a little before that Province had sent to Ferdinand a succour of 3000 Foot and 2000 Horse who having understood in their march the resolution of their Province facing about in a general tumult returned The General only who was that Albert of Wallestain who by that act of fidelity gave beginning to that great Fortune which in a few years carried him to an Ascendant and afterwards to a Precipice went on to Ferdinand delivering a certain sum of money he had in his possession for the payment of his Souldiers but the Moravians had a mind to fetch it again by force detaining till it was restored in arrest the Cardinal Dietrichstein a faithful Servant to the King who believing himself more in want of faithful Counsellors than money although he was in great necessity for his liberty readily restores it Ferdinand by all this was at the very brink of passing to the succession and the Empire in a calamitous condition and exposed even to the extremity of dangers for la Tour sollicited by some Barons of Austria came near to the Danube and being furnished with Boats by those of his Party passed it to the terrour of the Country and of the City of Vienna having as it were no Garrison but the presence and constancy of Ferdinand whilst the Souldiers within it exceeded not 1500 Foot and 200 Horse who were to guard it from the Inhabitants no less than from Enemies because they held Correspondence with la Tour and had treated to deliver him a Port. But he having lain still two days at Fischen lost the Victory because believing to conquer a City by the same manner he had made whole Provinces revolt with Letters and invitations he wrote to Vienna and while he expected an answer the University armed five hundred Scholars Victuals were brought in and some Souldiers arrived Most opportunely of all came the succours of certain Companies of Cuirassiers sent by the great Duke of Tuscany to his Kinsman which by the address of one Santilier a French Gentleman falsifying their Colours entred passing through the midst of the Bohemish Squadrons into Vienna in that very instant that the King was hard put to it by some who insolently plucking him by the Doublet required the Concession of Priviledges and Liberty of Conscience But hearing the trampling of the Horses and unexpectedly seeing the Souldiers run up and down the streets with their Swords in their hands the fright was so great amongst them that they dispersed and together with them the Conventicles were dissolved which they held in private houses wherein also store of Arms were gathered together La Tour to give courage to his drew near to the City and lodging in the Suburbs besieges it but for a few days only for D'Ampierre with 4000 men raised in Hungary designing to joyn with Buquoy who was strong 1000 Cuirassiers Mansfelt attempted to hinder him in his way but Buquoy fell upon him so opportunely out of an Ambuscade that he defeated him with a great number of slain and more of Prisoners Upon this advice la Tour draws off from Vienna fearing lest upon this disgrace the Bohemians might be wavering But Fortune carried Ferdinand from a Siege to the Empire for fetching a long compass and arriving
minds to whatsoever fault or interest Anthonio was at that time Ambassadour in the Court of England and to clear this account he had leave to come to Venice where haranguing in the Senate with great power and no less hope to pacifie mens minds by the merits of his Ancestors and his own Services he found that in cases the most important Justice did not hold the ballance to equalize merits with faults Being summoned to Prison to render account as a Delinquent and yielding to it he was banished with a Sentence of Death and Confiscation of Goods his Name and Posterity cancelled out of the Order of the Patricians He retired himself into England where Girolamo Lando succeeding him in the Ambassage moves the King to discharge him thence But the Senate by the League with the Duke Carlo believing by his strong diversion the State at Land only secured from the attempts of the Milanese and by that of the Switzers judging to have provided themselves with little more than with the appearance and some numbers of Souldiers applied themselves to an equal strength of shipping and men also on the Sea-coast lest the Viceroy of Naples should continue his thoughts to disturb the Islands and the Gulph For this cause they listened to a Proposition of Alliance insinuated from the United Provinces of Holland in which besides the common interest of Liberty and Commerce they had a great desire to strengthen themselves with some strong support before-hand if within a while the Truce coming to expire they should be exposed to a new ingagement with the powerful Forces of Spain Christofero Suriano was at this time Resident for the Venetians at the Haghe who with much ripeness of judgment and dexterity in the managing of persons had introduced himself into a confidence with the Prince of Oâ—â—…nge and the Chief of the States and from thence collecting easily their sense he proceeded from discourses to a Treaty for which some Deputies of the States of the Provinces being appointed to treat with him they set down in writing the Conditions of a League of common defence But being propounded in Venice for the approbation of the Senate opinions differed for amongst those of the Colledge Giovanni Nani judged that the Conclusion should be deferred believing that the Republick though involved in great and grievous suspicions ought not at this time to intangle it self in that interest which presupposing a perpetual War put her into such and so great expences and dangers that the remedy would be found worse than the present evils And so he spake to this purpose If it be true that the faith of Princes is a bond not to be untyed and that Treaties of Leagues as Marriages make a Community of Fortune and Interests it is never too late to resolve upon a Decree which cannot be retracted nor amended A Decree which concerns an Alliance not of those States which govern their Councils by the alteration of things by the vicissitude of affections by the corruptions of Ministers and the change of Governours but of two Republicks in their Constitution immortal in their Maxims immoveable and in their Word constant An Vnion comprehending a short period and a limited number of years yet extends it self to the most weighty affairs and putting the Republick into a long and inextricable Labyrinth draws along with it consequences of great moment because it hath for its object a perpetual War in which with unwearied exercise of mind the Vnited Provinces defend their Religion and Liberty against a most powerful King implacable in the offence and indefatigable in the resentment That the Treasure of the Republick should be poured forth to the assistance of the weak that our aids should be the certain Capital of the oppressed that the Arsenals and Treasuries should be common to Italy there are so strong motives that it cannot be denied but they have not the same force for the affairs of Holland and if they have force by ballancing the reasons it is fit that we measure their strength Our succours perhaps will be large yet unsufficient to be able to maintain a War which subsists upon terms of Liberty and Rebellion irreconciliable with subjection and Kingly Authority A War extended to the four parts of the World which hath no limits nor can be bounded which hath emptied Spain of People exhausted the Indies of Gold and swallowed the Blood and Treasures of Europe The Republick hath always been most just in her undertakings in her own defence most circumspect and in the assistance of others constant What is now pretended is it to take Arms against Spain have we Peace with him is it to preserve our selves but what more safe remedy than the sparing the vital spirits for our own occasions Some desire to perswade those States at the end of the Truce to make an end of the War but if in their intestine Divisions having experienced greater mischiefs from Peace than hazards in the War they are thereto perswaded by their own interest that diversion will surely serve to our advantage and that War will be carried on without us under the shadow of which Italy will take breath and the Republick protected by Heaven against force and treasons will happily enjoy a calm and quiet peace Holland hath the assistance of their Neighbours and they most potent Princes some conformable to their own Religion others by a suitableness to their conveniencies and designs and these can and will uphold her with puissant Forces To what purpose then hasten our Carrier if by the steps of others without wearying our selves we may arrive at the end of our advantages The Republick hath to its praise assumed to her self the protection of Italy hath maintained it and doth maintain it with glory but it would be too vast a thought to espouse all the differences of Europe and have to do in every part of the World If out of prudence we have abstained from meddling in the affairs of Bohemia why should we pinch our selves with those of Holland is it to obtain assistance But that people will not be wanting to be serviceable to us without a League who agree with all the World where there is money and reward I deny not but that friends are a great defence and that in true Mesnagery that Treasure is not to be valued which keeps the Monster of War far off But do the bonds of friendship consist in Treaties only The affections of Princes are there joyned where the Interests are not separate Who doubts but that the Vnited Provinces will embrace our assistance as often as being in distress it may be seasonable to give it and render it to us again when the Conjunction of affairs shall shew it to be necessary We have hitherto at least drawn Commanders Souldiers Ships out of that Country open to the money of all That very money which for the purchase of a friendship not necessary we are here vainly so ready to disburse shall be that
might be denied to those of the Austrians To find out some composure betwixt those of the Valteline and the Grisons which might serve to maintain the defence with minds united or facilitate the Peace Coevre and Giorgio assembled their Deputies in Sondrio but without fruit the one not resolving to lose their Soveraignty and the profits and the other fancying to themselves that pardon was more to be suspected than revenge Seeds of greater calamities sprung now up in all parts for as much as that in Germany also the Victories of Ferdinand served rather to exasperate than terminate the War whilst his prosperity rendred his power as much burdensom to his Neighbours as hazardous to the Empire For this purpose a Meeting was held at the Hague to which coming the Ministers of France England Denmark Sweden Gabor and of other Princes of the North they made the World believe that they aimed not so much at the moderation of the greatness of the Austrians as totally to suppress it Nevertheless according to the destiny attending such an Assembly every one amidst the common interest driving his own peculiar designs it was discovered that the French did not intend to charge themselves with ought else but to give the Hollanders the Subsidy stipulated that they would refuse the Truce offered by the Spaniards with other large Conditions The Kings of Sweden and Denmark desired to make a War and demanded great sums of money to maintain it and the Transilvanian not regarding the Conditions lately made with the Emperour offered to break anew provided he might have a vigorous assistance In such sort that every one demanding considerable assistances and none being willing to give them to another the Meeting separates like one of those great Engines which split when they are ready for motion taking pretext that some especially the Transilvanian had not sufficient powers whereupon the Meeting was put off to the year following to the end that by a better concert the League might then be finished No body had shewed himself more earnest in this business than the King of England as both younger and more provoked whereupon dispatching his Favourite Buckingham and the Earl of Holland for his Ambassadours to the Hague impatient of longer delay he concludes with the United Provinces a Treaty of offence and defence for fifteen years by means whereof he pretended to restore the Palatine Frederick into his Patrimony concerting a diversion by Sea on the Coast of Spain and to send an Army by Land at a common charge But of this for want of money which could not be raised without the odious calling of a Parliament the design vanished and of the other Fortune frustrated the effect although the Fleet consisted of more than ninety Ships a Squadron of Holland being therein comprehended so well furnished with Souldiers and all other necessaries that if in the inconstancy of the waves reason or force might have commanded any attempt whatsoever seemed likely to succeed But carrying Fredericks Colours for a shew sailing longst the Coast of Spain and casting Anchor in the Baye of Cadiz in design to take that Port and to pillage the rich Fleet which was expected from America they land at Puntal to cut off succours from the Town and shut up certain Gallies and Gallions in the Port which would have easily succeeded if they had not spent a great deal of time to no purpose in fortifying themselves Spain that was wont rather to provoke her Enemies afar off than to see them before her face and in her bosom was in disorder and the King would have gone in person to oppose them if Olivares had not diverted him considering the remedy too late and unbecoming the grandeur and gravity of that Nation Ferdinand Giron who commanded in that Quarter with a stupendious stoutness transported in a few Gallies from the Terra firma and in sight of the Enemy Ammunition and Souldiers with which the Garrison was strengthened they so molested the English with Sallies that judging the gaining of it would be long and difficult they re-imbarked applying themselves to what they could light on at Sea Many Barks were dispatched from the Coast of Spain to meet the Fleet to the end that changing their course and keeping aloof from the Cape of St. Vincent where the English waited for them they might put in at the Corogne One of them falling seasonably into their hands saved the rest for taking it for granted that the Fleet would make for this Port they sailed thither whilst in the mean time having had no advice it arrived happily at Cadiz And now the English Weather-beaten and sickness increasing returned into their own Country not without mutual dissatisfaction with the Hollander the one imputing to the other the ill success of the Expedition But greater were the jars and jealousies which after the Conference in Holland increased more and more betwixt England and France for the one attributed to the other the loss of Breda by denying passage to Mansfelt and upbraided him with the ruine of the Palatine and the other interests in Germany whilst designing in his own Kingdom the destruction of the Huguenots he desired the lessening of the Protestants every where Nor did France want complaints reciprocal for the many reprisals happened at Sea the retreat of Soubize to London the assistances promised before the Peace to the Rochellois and the caution given to that Peace as though England intended to make a Party with its Subjects besides the unhandsom intreatment of the Queen and her Family contrary to the Conditions of Marriage The Austrians hoping for great advantages from such disagreements the common friends to both interposed themselves to put a stop to them or remove them and particularly the Venetians who charged Marco Anthonio Corraro and Angelo Contarini Cavalieri Ambassadours Extraordinary An. Dom. 1626 to congratulate King Charles his Succession with express and most effectual offices for that purpose which nevertheless had no effect the minds of the Favourites being much more exasperated than the interest of the Crowns discordant ANNO M.DC.XXVI In the beginning of this year Torquato Conti with the Popes Army being entred into the Milanese put mens minds greatly to a stand betwixt the report which he published to invade the Valley joyntly with Papenhaim and the slowness of his march as if he desired retardments and expected accidents which might divert him from doing of it The Venetians with a body of their Army coasted upon him longst the Borders resolving according to his motion to advance into the Valteline and defend it But before any undertaking and ingagement of Arms arrives the news that as to the Affairs of the Valteline France and Spain had betwixt themselves concluded a Peace a report so surprizing that it is not to be said how much it universally struck mens minds in regard that though the name of Peace was very pleasing yet the secret management of it and the almost shame with which
and set at naught a Prince in friendship with him The rupture indeed betwixt France and England advanced apace the disagreements betwixt the King and Queen in London continuing notwithstanding that the Mareshal of Bassompiere gone thither Ambassadour Extraordinary setled certain Articles concerning the Queens Family which in matters of Religion served for a pretext to distasts but not reconciling the interests and passions of the two Favourites Richelieu disavowed him and Buckingham as studiously crossed him At the instigation of the Duke of Savoy who by his own anger sharpned that of others the Domesticks of the Queen were sent back to Paris There followed hereupon many reciprocal reprisals at Sea and King Charles taking the Huguenots and Rochel into his protection complained of the inobservancy of Treaties and of the inconvenience the Fort Lewis was to that Town Upon these pretexts Buckingham taking the quality of Ambassadour had a mind to pass into France to procure redress but the true motive of his Journey being ascribed to loves contracted in that Court Richelieu perswades the King to refuse him entrance into the Kingdom The rage hereupon of the other was inflamed to extremity and swearing that since he was forbidden to enter in a peaceable manner into France he would make his passage with an Army he applies himself to an open breach The Kings intentions being carried by Monsieur Montaigue to the Huguenots and the Duke of Savoy it was resolved betwixt them that the King as Protector of the last Peace with the Huguenots should to repair the pretended infractions send thirty thousand men against France divided into three Armies whereof the first was to take in the Islands next to Xaintonge to strengthen Rochel the second to land in the Garonne near Bourdeaux and the third keeping Normandy and Britany in apprehension distract the Forces and shutting up the entrances into the Rivers hinder the Commerce The Duke of Savoy was at the same time to invade Provence and Dauphiné promising also to send five hundred Horse to Rohan who offered to raise the greatest part of Languedoc with the Huguenots and with four thousand Foot and a good number of Horse to joyn with the English in Guyenne And to the end the Kingdom might be invaded on all parts Carlo Duke of Lorrain moved thereto by Chevereuse and Scaglia who went to attend him for that purpose was to enter into it from his side with powerful Forces The Venetians and the States of Holland were also invited by the English and by Savoy the one by the interests of Religion and the other in revenge of the Treaty of Monzone and for fear of the Union betwixt France and Spain but both these Republicks apprehending more than from the Treaty of Monzone the evils from the discord betwixt England and France who coming to a War left every where a field open to the advantages and arbitrement of the Austrians endevoured by an effectual mediation to reconcile them In this interim the Treaty was executing in the Valteline though the Grisons greatly stirred with prejudice appealed sending an express Embassy into France Nor was it to any purpose that Monsieur de Chasteauneuf to appease them came from Venice to Coira and from thence into Helvetia for the three Leagues and amongst the Switzers the Protestant Cantons would never give their consent Nevertheless not regarding their complaints it was agreed to render the Forts and withdraw the Armies The Venetians by reason of the nearness were troubled that the Forts should be demolished and the Pope refusing to charge himself with such a trouble and expence Fargis at the Court of Spain had consented to new prejudices capitulating that they should by the Pope be delivered to those of the Valteline or the Spaniards themselves to demolish them But that being disapproved by France and the Republick it was at last agreed in Rome between Monsieur Bethune and the Count d'Ognate Ambassadors of the Crowns That those old Forts out of which the Ensigns of the Church had gone forth should be restored to Torquato Conti who should enter into them with three thousand men that he afterwards should go out of them when the Spanish Ministers should deliver him a Writing that they were satisfied of the former deposition That at the same time the Confederates should withdraw their Forces out of the new Forts and they to be all at a time demolished by the Peasants so soon as Pope Urbans Colours should enter into the first Some retardments deferred the delivery until the beginning of the year to come for Coevre had a mind before he retired that the Pension of those of the Valteline to the Grisons should be adjusted But Gonsales de Cordua who upon the removal of Feria as little inclined to execute the Peace commanded in the Milanese denying that he had power concerning this it was in France adjudged by the King with the consent of the Ambassadour of Spain at twenty five thousand Crowns a year Carlo also pressed by Bouillon had made a suspension of Arms with the Genouese rather to revenge himself of France than out of complacency to it for being entred into the design to invade with great hopes that Kingdom he did not unwillingly dis-engage himself on that side In this manner was Italy set at quiet but knew it self big with new storms and more fierce tempests The Venetians accommodating themselves to the time and reforming their Militia kept a strong body of the most veteran and tryed ones In this year amongst the domestick Affairs Frederico Cornaro Bishop of Bergamo being promoted to the Cardinalat in that order in which amongst the other Crowns the Popes are wont to honour the Republick there arose a doubt whether he being Son of the Doge the Law had place which forbid them to receive Ecclesiastical Benefices and it was declared by the Senate that a dignity of that quality was not comprehended under the common name of Benefices On the contrary to Carlo Quirini Bishop elect of Sebenico was denied the possession because the Council of Ten having received knowledge that he had gotten it by means not lawful for Citizens of the Republick and by the favour of the Ministers of other Princes banished him with the severest penalties and the Church was given by the Pope to another During the Truce howsoever short caused by the Arms and evils of Italy a new War arises in Germany or rather the old was increased by the practices of Christian the Fourth King of Denmark contrived with the Protestants That Kingdom is not great in Territory nor puissant in Forces but considerable for its situation by Land and by Sea and by reason of the support which through its nearness it gave to the Princes of the Lower Saxony who as hath been said had chosen him for General of the Circle and he together with the charge assuming high thoughts hoped to manage the War to his own advantage by the forces and money of others
afterwards into Alexandria raging openly that a certain prey had been taken out of his hand by the Duke of Savoy but rejoyced in his heart that if the Capitulation of Susa saved Casal it preserved also the Milanese at that time exposed by the weakness of Forces if it had been invaded to a most certain ruine Casal was presently provided with fifteen thousand Sacks of Corn brought in by the French and by others furnished by the Duke of Mantua to whom the Venetians gave for that purpose thirty thousand Ducats besides another sum to keep his Souldiers in order with some small pay Into the Town were put a good number of French under Monsieur de Thoiras Mareschal de Camp taking their passage through Piedmont and some were brought into Aqui and Nizza whence the Spaniards were gone out The displeasure at their being brought in more than the shame for the retreat vexed extremely Gonzales the French arriving happily there whence with so much noise of Councils and Arms the Spaniards had endeavoured to keep them far off and his jealousie was so much the more increased when he understood that Father Joseph a Capucin most confident with the Cardinal was going to Mantua to propose amidst many pretexts to the Duke that to spare care and troubles he would yield Monferrat to the Crown which should give him a Soveraignty in exchange near to the Estate he possessed in the Kingdom Carlo from these dealings had occasion to know that the succours of great Princes are seldom done without respect to their own advantage and understanding at what the French aimed he thought it good counsel if he could possibly bring it to pass to dis-ingage himself as soon as he could by assenting to the Treaty of Susa as well from the assistance of the one as the Hostility of the other Crown Dextrously therefore rejecting the Propositions of the Capucin he sends the Marquess Striggio to give the King thanks for his succours and together with ample powers to execute the Treaty But although there was a Meeting upon it of Deputies in Buzzolino a Town near to Susa and that the Mantuans offered to the Savoyards the choice of Lordships divided into four Ranks yet Carlo Emanuel who thought of any thing but observing the accord first by several excuses and after by the supervening of new accidents frustrates the business The Ambassadour Soranzo being arrived at Susa and finding the Agreement concluded though he could not divert the prejudices which were apprehended by the Republick endeavoured at last that the execution might be warily provided for by deferring the departure of the King and the Army till Ratifications should arrive from Spain His considerations to the King and Cardinal were That Peace was not well grounded upon words alone and promises in an Age in which fraud passes for expedience and infidelity is reckoned amongst advantages but that security consisted in fulfilling and effectuating Agreements That fear of that unconquered Army had extorted from the Duke of Savoy a Consent Fame the fore-runner of the Glory of so generous a Monarch had forced the Governour of Milan from Casal But that agreements dictated from necessity as by an unjust and violent Minister have always been observed to be of short continuance If that troublesom and inconstant spirit of the Duke be thought to be sufficiently fixed it were but reason to loosen the bond of Force If the will of Gonzales be thought changed or the Maxims of the Councils of Spain moderated he for his part consented that the thought of Arms should be laid aside But if in the one from the provocation of the affront an ambitious heart be discovered and in the other vexed to the purpose with shame a haughty mind and in both the gnawing desire of Ambition and Empire be invited from difficulty a false security would delude the mind of so great a King and scorn the counsel of his wise Minister That Glory was a Plant which endured load and weight upon it self but if abandoned to the offences of time and the injuries of men naked and torn though at first adored within a while it would be despised That from the Alps the prosperous name of the Crown of France resounded through Italy but if so soon as arrived it disappears its friends would within a while seek for protection two Archbishopricks twelve Bishopricks and a great number of Abbies and rich Monasteries to the so great commotion of the Hereticks that Saxe with all his Party highly complained of it and denied that such Authority was due to the Emperour alone without a Diet and the consent of the States of the Empire But flattered with a crafty promise that the restitution should not be pressed but in a judiciary and civil way he within a while perceives that the Generals of the Armies were deputed for the execution of it who confounding the doubtful with the certain filled the Empire with alteration and the Princes with losses and complaints The contrivance seemed of moment because the best Pieces and the Churches which had Principalities annexed were to be incorporated into the Sons and Family the rest to promote the Reformation of Religion were with vast riches to be given by the Emperour to the Jesuits now exalted and believed the Authors of this Decree which considering the condition of the times even to the most zealous seemed unseasonable Designs stopping not here he sends General Arnhein into Prussia with an Army in favour of the Polacks not so much in a thankful retribution of the succours in the greatest pressure of his necessities obtained from King Sigismond as to keep the King of Swede intangled in those parts But the effect was very differing from the counsel for the Polacks having a natural distrust of Strangers and in particular detesting the Germans so soon as under the warmth of this assistance they began to breathe with some prosperity obliged their King to make a Truce for six years Whereupon Gustavus began to ruminate in his vast mind upon vast thoughts and provoked or desirous to prevent the injuries he feared lent his ear to many invitations which in the name of Princes discontented and enviers of the Austrians were brought to him and to lay the grounds of some Intelligences and Agreement he sent secretly to divers Princes Wolmar Count of Faremsback But in Holland England and France he found as then rather a hearing than reflecting upon this Proposition of moving Arms against Ferdinand whilst the late Wars in Poland with the felicity of successes had rather gotten the King the reputation of wise and valiant than renown to the Kingdom believed by all no less poor than remote and by consequence too weak to grapple with the Fortune and Power of the Austrians now grown to a full age and well rooted Nevertheless Richelieu who despised nought that was profitable and great resolves to send secretly Ministers to sound better the Genius and Power of the King and the
promises Richelieu protesting that neither Italy nor the Republick should receive the least prejudice and so the motion of the French was retarded till towards the end of the year either by the agitations of Court not yet fully quieted or because believing it difficult in the concourse of so many Forces in Italy to maintain with a felicity of success equal to the expectation of the World the Grandeur and Glory of that Crown they had a mind that the storm should vent it self and the Armies of the Austrians consuming themselves in the mean time to come upon them afterwards with fresh Troops of greater strength to give Law more easily to their consumed Enemies and wearied Friends At last mischiefs drawing to extremity it was resolved at Paris that the Cardinal with Title of Generalissimo should move towards Italy and that to draw to Court during his absence Orleans who shewed an abhorrency to him the King should go near to receive him on the Confines of Lorrain and should to content him with something of appearance put under his Command a small body of an Army in Champaigne for the defence of the Frontiers The Cardinal goes out of Paris with great applause carrying in his hand the Authority of the King and the Forces of the Kingdom but not with a mind free from many cares which his long absence from Court gave him and the Orders as precise as deep of the Queen-mother which charged him upon severe protestations of disgrace not to break openly with Spain Whilst he was ordering his march in France Mantua suffered bitterly in the Siege The Germans to say truth declined quickly in their strength because besides the evils of the season and the Climate being accustomed in the wide Provinces of Germany where instead of pay they have recourse to military licence they were in want in the narrowness of the Mantuan wasted already by Sword and Fire not only of prey but also of food So that many died some languished with sickness and others sought their escape by running away Neverless the Army drawing near the City threatned the Bourgh of St. Giorgio believing it as weak to resist as convenient to lodge in The Prince de Buzzolo going into Mantua endeavoured to perswade the Duke from dangers and accidents something disturbed and in disorder to deliver it up to shew some kind of respect to the Emperors Colours to give occasion for a Treaty and to stop the proceedings of the Army which being weakned and in want of many things had no pretence but to preserve the Emperours honour with some seeming appearance Durant a Colonel of the Venetians opposed that counsel offering to maintain the Burg with his men and for some days weary and hold the Enemy play gaining by that vigour those advantages which could hardly be hoped for from a shewing of weakness But the Duke too warily preferring the deceitful before the reasonable sends to the Marquess Frederick Gonzagha to deliver it to Aldringher who in the place of Colalto yet indisposed had the Command of the Army The Germans ascribing all to necessity and not to respect were so far from consenting to a suspension of Arms hoped for by the Duke that they rather required to put a Garrison into the Citadel of Mantua and to have the keeping of a Gate They then put by the hopes of obtaining it because the Duke incensed shewed himself resolute to hold out and defend himself planted several Batteries in the Burg and particularly in the Church-yard which stands there in a situation something eminent Against the Cereso they raised others to gain that Post by which they opened an entry into the Island of the Thé and might better than elsewhere approach to the Walls of the City But finding stout resistance and being several times with great loss repulsed they betook themselves to Art making a Truce with the Garrison for three hours only during which digging secretly a covered way they surprised the Post the Souldiers that kept it upon such an unlooked for assault taking the flight leaving their Ammunition and Arms behind them Durant by reason of the importance of the place not being able to suffer the loss and mischief by it a while after making a Sally drives them out of it with great bravery fortifying himself there in such sort as rendred all the Enemies attempts afterwards without effect On the other side the Germans under the favour of their Batteries were advanced even to the middle of the Bridge of St. Giorgio when being assaulted by a strong and numerous Sally they gave way leaving their Arms and Gabions in the power of the Duke The Citadel of Porto with its Cannon made their approach to it difficult when they craftily sending a Trumpet to that side whilst he went softly on and the Garrison intermitted shooting to expect what Message he should bring they planted one Gabion and under covert of that ranging others with what haste they could covered themselves by flinging up earth Those within were quit with them in another place driving the Enemy out of an Inn they had fortified which gave them great annoyance But if attacques were successful hunger in the Camp advanced the Venetians having stopped all passages for bringing Victuals to them and Corn for want of which all Italy miserably suffered The Army having wanted bread for some days were ready to withdraw when Corn being abundantly supplied out of the Popes Dominions by a Contract made with the Costaguti Merchants in Ferrara under the name whereof it was said that the Popes Kindred by buying and selling made great profit The Venetians were offended at it complaining and concealing it not that for the price of that Corn was sold the liberty and safety of Italy No want of Victuals was as yet in Mantua because the Republick had plentifully provided it for a year but of the Souldiery in so many occasions many were lost and the Ammunition consumed whereupon it being needful to think of relief a thousand Foot were sent by Erizzo with much Ammunition convoyed by three thousand other Foot and four hundred Horse which without any ill rencounter coming to the Lake of Mantua and by errour in the adjustment not finding Boats ready there to carry them into the Town were forced to retire Nevertheless a little while after Intelligence being better setled with the Duke they got safe in to the unspeakable joy of the besieged Pietro Quirini Proveditor of the Cavalry of Croats and Albanese and Colonel Milander returning from the Convoy meeting with seven hundred German Horse carrying away some Booty beat them chasing them in such sort that leaving their prey they had no thoughts but to save themselves Aldringher made aware by this succour of what importance the place of Goito was goes thither with three thousand Foot and twelve hundred Horse and was no sooner arrived but gave an assault upon it but was bravely repulsed by the Garrison Bringing afterwards Cannon and with a
pleased to do Wherefore from that very time it was judged that neither the one would be contented to remain a private man nor the other as a Prince would be long able to suffer him He applying himself in Moravia to raise an Army easily compleated it Souldiers flocking from all parts to his reputation and pay Nor did Saxony give him the least disturbance intent only upon Conquests in Bohemia and Silesia and perhaps desirous also that some stop might be put to the boundless progresses of the King Gustavus The Emperour demanded of the Catholick Princes speedy assistance for that purpose sending into Italy the Baron de Rabata and taking it for a common cause of Religion in which it belonged to the Pope by his example to exceed all others sends to him the Cardinal Pasman Ambassador extraordinary Vrban was very unwilling to be thus pressed because such instances were not to be disjoined from reproofs and protests wherefore avoiding to admit such an Ambassador he alledged that a Cardinal honoured with the Purple and a holy Character could not be employed in the service of secular Princes Pasman a man of profound learning and most discreet in all his actions replying that the interest of Religion obliged every one and in particular the Ecclesiasticks to take care of it and procure its defence declares that if the dignity or habit hindred him from the exercise of that Ministry he renounced and laid down every thing being ready also to speak in his shirt so the imminent necessities of the Church Catholick might be provided for At last Vrban seeing that the excluding the instances would be more complained of than the not hearing of them admitted him and heard succours demanded with a powerful eloquence as of a Pope and of a Father in the dangers of Religion and the urgent necessities of his Sons His first answers were made up of excuses that his Treasury was empty and that he wanted power which chiefly arose from the German Armies having in these last years unseasonably disturbed Italy and obliged the Church it self together with offensive jealousies to excessive charges Whereupon offending mens minds rather than satisfying the demands the Austrian Ministers resolved to assemble the Cardinals subjects and the friends they had in Court to compel the Pope with shame and pressing of him yet more home For which purpose Cardinal Borgia in the Consistory with others who had a mind to shew inclination to the Austrians admonished the Pope and presented to him a protest in writing laying in a manner to his charge that he neglected in so important a necessity the duty of his Pastoral Office Vrban to justifie himself to the Catholick world publishes instead of a Croisada which had been required of him a Jubilé by which he invites Christendom with publick prayers to pacifie the divine wrath of God and laying a certain imposition upon Ecclesiastical Goods in Italy raises some money for the supply of the Emperours necessities But of those Cardinals who had been so bold to present the protest he tormented some with his long and great displeasure forced others to retire out of Rome as Borgia for one by a rigorous Bull which obliged Bishops to their residence As for Rabata he brought nothing back from the Princes but excuses and the Duke of Mantua in particular shewed him the horrid spectacle of his wounds yet bleeding He desired succours of the Venetians and offered an alliance producing certain Articles which he affirmed would be assented to by the Spaniards and the Elector of Bavaria for the defence of the Catholick Religion in the dangers of the Empire It was generally believed that not so much the hopes to obtain succours as the desire to make France jealous suggested the design it being observed that at the same time there arrived in the name of the Governour of Milan at Venice the Senator Picinardi to attest the just intention of the Catholick King for Peace the desire for that purpose to unite himself with the Princes of Italy in a strict alliance and in particular that the Republick would contribute counsel example and endeavours He concealed not the jealousies that the Governour had for the bringing in of nine hundred French with Thoiras into Casal and presaged troubles and stirs about it The Senate answered to all with officious expressions of a neutrality which it had resolved to observe declaring its earnest endeavours applied to Peace and considering the State of Italy scarce recovered out of its great evils exhorted that employing that zeal which all have to quiet the appearances and jealousies of relapsing into troubles might be removed The like endeavours were used with France which seemed equally pressing offering alliances and Treaties But the Senate holding their interest and Arms ingaged for the security of Mantua refused in effect every thing that might hasten new troubles in Italy which though quiet yet under fear apprehended stranger and greater accidents Nor amongst the least was reckoned the suspicion that the Spaniards designed the surprise of Mantua to oppose it to Pignerol and Casal where the Duke overcome by the perswasions of the French Ministers and of the jealousies which they represented to him to be of imminent danger had as hath been before said admitted their Garrison It was commonly spoken that the Spaniards were to intrude themselves into Sabioneda by marrying the Princess of Stigliana to Giovanni Carolo Brother of the Great Duke and upon the report thereof the Marquess de Fomar offered himself to attempt the surprise and to deliver the place to the Prince of Buzzolo to whom he said it did belong if France and the Republick would send their assistance The Venetians did not believe that it was fit to promote those mischiefs which they feared but too near if the Duke of Mantua dying and the young Princess coming to marry that State should be exposed to new contingencies and the rights of the Family be divided For that purpose there was sollicited in Rome a dispensation of marriage betwixt the Duke and his Daughter-in-Law but the Pope denyed it it seeming an unfit thing that on the Hearse of the Son should be made the Nuptial Bed of the Father To all this to augment suspicions was added the great preparations the Spaniards made in Italy particularly in the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily where money was provided men were raised Ships were making ready with other provisions shewing thoughts of War and designs of some undertaking But at last every thing being imbarqued six thousand Foot and one thousand Horse were seen to pass into Spain to foment the commotions of France Orleans dismissed out of Lorrain by virtue of the Agreement repairs to his Mother at Brussels giving hopes to the Spaniards to raise in the Kingdom a great party in his favour to which there was no doubt but the Foreigners would join In France there still continued against Richelieu hatred and envy the wonted shadow of great favours and
the evening hindred them and the darkness of the night after ten hours separated this cruel fight Ten with the title of Generals were killed in both the Armies Wallestain was rather threatned than hurt with the shot of a Musket which favourably passed betwixt the seat and the buttock though at the blow not without a mark of excessive fear he let the bridle fall out of his hand and his Horse ran away with him The Imperialists by night retired towards Leipzich leaving their Cannon in the field because in the confusion of the Battel the Draught-horses were run away But in the Triumph of the Swedes the General was wanting which filling the Army that infinitely loved him with sorrow and lamentation some deplored the flower of his age others the vigour of his mind and all together the quality of a great Prince and no less Souldier He was found amongst the dead bodies mangled with wounds bruised with the trampling of Horses stript totally that not so much as his shirt remained as a Trophy of so many Conquests and so great an Empire A King certainly saving the errour of his Religion endowed with those qualities which have rendred the Conquerours of the World famous Possessing in an equal degree courage and prudence and if in conquering he seemed fierce and violent he was as wise and circumspect in preserving His vertues being solid and all of a piece it could not be discerned to which in his knowledge of the Military or Civil Affairs the prize was to be given Yet all his life having been in a continual exercise of Arms it seemed that he himself gave it the preference And indeed Fortune in these so far favoured him that having fought many Battels and always conquered in this very instant of death he dyed victorious after death and a long course of prosperity hath crowned in such sort his Sepulchre that his very ashes may be called Triumphant This was the issue of the Battel of Lutzen both Parties judged fatal the one having lost the field and the other their King but if these got the Victory the others saved themselves Wallestain staying but a few moments at Leipzich retires afterwards into Bohemia and the Swedes conducting the Body to Weissenfelt solemnized his Funeral with Revenge and Arms. Leipzich was rendred to Saxony to Weimar Chemnits to Kniphausen Pleiffenberg and Zuiccan to Horn and to the Rhingrave after the defeat of the Imperial Cavalry in Alsace Rheinfelt Colmar Haghenau and other places Frederick Prince Palatine under the countenance of this the Swedes Fortune regains Frankendale but taking the death of Gustavus to heart An. Dom. 1633 dyes himself within a while after Baudissen having taken Andernach troubled the Elector of Colen and the Dukedom of Berg. In this year also were in mourning through unhappy Fate almost all the Royal Families of Europe for in Spain whilst King Philip kept his Court in Catalogna dyes Charles his Brother in the flower of his Age a Prince of a haughty mind and impatient of being idle to such a degree that being designed to temper with more quiet imployments the heat of his nature to the Government of Portugal while the Infante Cardinal his other Brother was going to that of Flanders he raging with anger within a while dyes either from the weariness of his condition or by disorders having in a manner dissolved his mind in idleness and wasted his natural strength in pleasures Fame nevertheless accused the Conde Duke as if fearing the opposition of his hot spirit against his Authority he should have procured his death by poyson But it is not becoming without more certain proofs to give credit to so hainous a wickedness In Germany Leopold Archduke of Inspruch weary of the blows of Fortune prejudicial to his House and Country dyes leaving little Sons under the Tutelage of Claudia de Medici his Wife In Poland King Sigismond departs this life and in the Diet of the Kingdom was substituted Vladislaus his Eldest Son The Republick to congratulate his coming to the Crown made choice of Giovanni Pisari Cavalier for Ambassadour Extraordinary who afterwards appointed elsewhere leaves Giorgio Giorgio Cavalier to perform it and it was answered in the Name of the King by the Duke of Ossolinschi after he had been to present obedience to the Pope ANNO M.DC.XXXIII By the death of Gustavus all the World believed notwithstanding the posthumous Victory and the advantages of Arms that as great and weighty bodies when they fall are split into small pieces so Fortune would be shaken and such a breach made into that Power that the Armies should disband Princes disunite Conquests be lost and after a short flash there would remain of this great Thunder-stroke no more but the memory and the ashes But quite contrary for after having setled in Swede the Succession of the Crown in Christina the only Daughter of the King deceased and placed the Tutelage of her that was not above seven years old in the hands of the principal Ministers the Chiefs of the Army calling a Council in Germany resolved to continue the War so much the more earnestly by how much they hoped that Honour and Booty will in future accrue to their advantage To Axel Oxenstern great Chancellor a man of a notable Talent they yielded the direction of the ordinary Counsels and to Weimar they committed the chief management of the Armies not without distasting the Elector of Saxony who by reason of his dignity thought it due to him So the War under divers Chiefs and with several Armies was presently spread into many Provinces to the so much ruine of places and people that if it ordinarily be nourished with cruelty and blood at present it seemed that the alone desolating of Germany was the aim of the Armies Amongst infinite successes which changing felicity and fortune hapned in several places it shall suffice to make choice of the most signal that serve most for the reflection of Princes and the alteration of States Whilst the Swedish Chiefs were dividing designs and charges Fridtland not only goes far from Leipzich but out of the Countries of the Elector of Saxony though with the fright of his Arms he might easily have perswaded him to an agreement and leaving but a few Troops in Bohemia goes into Silesia under pretext to oppose the Saxons who indeed made less disturbance there than elsewhere The Austrians joyful for the death of the King Gustavus stormed nevertheless against their own General accusing him that neglecting so great a conjuncture to end the War with advantage he had not made use of the arts proper to a Conquerour nor his wonted ones of a great Captain Wherefore the confidence Ferdinand had in him did henceforward degenerate into suspicion that he was pleased with War and the Command whereupon to satiate his ambition or rather to found his intention a great sum of money in the name of the Spaniards was offered him that by his reputation and conduct an
Favourite agrees with the King his Brother Puilaurens had been gained by Richelieu so that as he in compliance with his own loves to the Princess of Falsburg another Sister of Carlo's had already driven on Orleans to the Marriage with Margaret so now weary of those inclinations and baited by the Cardinal with promises of great recompence and the Marriage with his own Niece perswades him to leave his Mother and Wife at Brussels and to return by stealth into the Kingdom But Puilaurens was not long ere he felt the punishment of his over-much credulity for being allured by the Marriage and at that very time new offences being produced and he condemned to lose his life his death dissolved it The Spaniards remained by the escape of Orleans frustrated of their hopes and the surprise of the Islands of Ere 's in Provenze was deferred contrived by them to be executed under Imperial Colours upon pretence of succours and diversion for Lorrain For five and twenty Gallies seven great Ships with Souldiers and all other Provisions being come from Naples into Sicily to joyn with other eight Gallies and to take on Board Souldiers found things there in so little readiness that they were forced to put it off till the next year From such provisions and so great designs was easily to be comprehended that some great motion to War was near And therefore the Venetians failed not to attempt by their endeavours effectually imployed by Luigi Contarini in France and Giovanni Giustiniani in Spain to pacifie their minds and moderate animosities but the evil being at the point of breaking forth was rather provoked so that all diligence became fruitless and reasons were heard but not considered both the Crowns endeavouring rather by allurements and promises to bring the Republick into their opinions and change the Mediation into an adhering either to the one or other side An. Dom. 1635 THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICK OF VENICE THE TENTH BOOK ANNO MDCXXXV THE slaughters and calamities which dishonouring Christendom and destroying Europe have made famous the rancour of two great Ministers will give posterity just occasion to number this rather amongst the most doleful than a renowned year in which France and Spain came to an open breach and gave a beginning to a long War with memorable accidents and bloody successes intermingled with fallacious Treaties vicissitudes of Arms insurrections of people and the mockeries of Fortune It was already discovered that the emulation betwixt Richelieu and Olivares could no longer remain concealed neither wanted there on either side occasions or pretexts for the Fleet in Italy the Armies in Spain the Treaties with Orleans the stirring up the discontented abundantly discovered what engine was preparing by the Spaniards and on the other side the possession of Lorrain the progresses in Germany the Treaties with the Swedes and the Subsidies to Holland pointed out what designs the French were contriving The Cardinal sent the Count of Botru to Madrid and the Condé Duke Benavides to Paris but rather to espye the state of things than to beget confidence having rather mutually brought back instead of fair words and kind usage provocations and stinging incentives it is not credible to what a height rage was inflamed and minds irritated made sensible through ambition and resolute in revenge the better to confirm authority amidst Arms and uphold favour and glory Richelieu was happy who in these preludiums of War experienced in every Treaty the more lucky destiny to conclude with the Vnited Provinces of the Low Countries the League offensive and defensive which so much awakened in the World discourses expectation and fame and stirred up in the Austrians so many apprehensions and fears for by the Articles of the same The Provinces in obedience to the King of Spain were to be assaulted by the Confederates with Forces united of fifty thousand Foot and ten thousand Horse after that by a publick Manifest they should be invited and for three months their answer expected to shake off the Yoak and to unite themselves with others in one common body of liberty saving to every one their priviledges and in particular their Religion but when that time was past they designed them a pray to their Arms and the Conquests were to be divided Lutzemburg Namur Henault Artois and the Territory of Cambray were to be yielded to France with a part of Flanders on this side of a line which was to be drawn from Blankenburg betwixt Bridges and Dam taking in Ruplemond the rest was to belong to the States of Holland with a promise to leave the Catholick Religion every where in the state they found it It was agreed not to make Peace or Truce but by common consent and not to admit of any terms till the Spaniards were first totally driven out of the Low Countries They proposed to attacque Towns in an alternative order one of the repartition to France and then another of those assigned to Holland but leaving the choice to the will of the Generals A Fleet at Sea was over and above this agreed upon and the French were to declare War to the Emperour and every body else that upon this account should molest the States All this tended to give a great stroke if in the management of the War the interests of the Confederates had met with a parity as in the Treaty their minds were equally disposed and their wills agreeing The Spaniards coming to the knowledge hereof to the Pope and in all Courts laid load upon the French with bitter invectives as if they would expose Religion in pray to the Hereticks and that not contented to see it through the countenance of their assistance depressed in Germany they went about to extirpate it also in those Provinces where under the Government of their Monarchy the true Worship was retained But all that availing little placing their confidence in Arms rather than complaints they determine upon prevention by shutting that door by which the French assaulting the back-side of the Provinces intended to bring their Army to join with that of Holland The Count of Embden then sent by the Cardinal Infanta to attempt the gaining of the Citadel of Triers succeeded in the surprise of it by night through the negligence with which Arnoud the French Governour kept it the Garrison in the exploit being cut to pieces and the Elector remaining Prisoner for that hindred by the Gout he was not able to make his escape He was sent to Vienna to give account to the Emperour of his putting himself under the protection of the French and to have introduced into his Towns stranger Garrisons contrary to the constitutions of the Empire At the same time Fortune applauding beginnings Colonel Bamberg who after a long Siege had rendred Phillipsburg to the Swedes by whom it was afterwards delivered over to France by the favour of the Ice passing the ditch happily surprised that very strong place At two so great and unexpected blows the French were
also render the places it had gained Concerning the Succession if it should happen the Duke should dye he promised to protect the Right of the Princes understanding those who should be adhering to his Party As for the rest to Thomaso was left in Government that which he had in his present power for so long till an agreement were made with his Nephew and Sister-in-law assigning great Pensions to himself his Wife and his Sons for one of which hopes were given him of a Marriage with the Daughter of the Duke of Longueville endowed with great Riches Under the faith of this Treaty which for the present required secrecy the Truce was prolonged for all February of the next year But amidst the Negotiations of Italy the hopes of the general Peace went in such sort backwards that the Pope weary of the Charge and the dishonour of keeping a Legate idle in Collen recalls him leaving for Nuntio Extraordinary Signor Macchiavelli Patriarch of Constantinople to whom Rossetti a while after was substituted These discomposures of the Treaty rose chiefly from the revolts of Catalogna and of Portugal which filling one side with great hopes and designs and the other with perturbation of mind and perplexity admitted not the appearance of any expedients to reconcile their minds and interests It hath formerly been hinted how Olivares with an absolute power governed in Spain the King no less than his Dominions with a Spirit highly elated Maxims severe and Counsels violent He had proposed to himself to exalt the Power and Glory of the King equal to the Title which he had caused him to assume of Great but Fortune with unhappy events seconded so ill his purpose that the Splendour of the Crown seemed in a great measure darkned Whereupon among Strangers there was a relaxation of that awe which rising from power was wont to keep them in respect and in the mind of the Subjects accustomed under the vail of reputation and prosperity to venerate as infallible the Arcana of the Government entred contempt and hatred towards the King and his Favourite The design of Olivares was manifest not only to enlarge the Monarchy beyond its first Confines but in the Kingdoms themselves to establish the absolute Authority of a Monarch who in some of the Provinces circumscribed by Laws Concessions and Covenants seemed precarious and that he enjoyed rather the name than the force of Dominion That which urged him to this was chiefly the want of money and men to supply so many foreign Wars for being to depend upon the consent of the people provisions came not to be furnished equal to the necessity nor ready for the urgency Wherefore he thought to abolish or at least to restrain so great a liberty which some attributed to themselves and principally the Catalans who provided with no small priviledges and free from many burdens kept their Liberty with no less zeal than their Religion The King being some years since with the Court at Barcellona they several times opposed Olivares his demands whereat he being irritated nourished ever after in his mind thoughts to chastise and humble them The Kings to say truth were wont to bear respect to that Nation arrogant by Nature and for the situation important because the Province if from the Sea-Coast by reason it hath no Harbours it be impenetrable on the Land side it seems inaccessible by reason of the Mountains and they piercing deeply inwards and being divided into many branches form themselves into as many Fortifications within which are comprehended strong places populous Cities Towns and a great number of Villages so that the whole Province may be resembled to one mighty Bastion defended with several cuttings of retreats The Neighbourhood then to France the Passes of the Pirenean the largeness of the Circuit the population and martial inclination of the Inhabitants made it considered and little less than feared Nevertheless the Condé Duke busied his thoughts for an opportunity to bridle it but when he thought that Fortune had opened the way to it he was not aware that it carried along with it a down-fal to the greatness and safety of all Spain We have formerly observed how Richelieu tempting the Confines on that side hoped to promote accidents and particularly to irritate the mind of the people amidst the inconveniencies of War and the mischiefs of Arms and so it punctually fell out For Salses being lost the Spaniards to recover it were forced to plant their place of Arms in Catalogna and when they had taken it left the Army to quarter there so that if during the Siege the Province was grievously afflicted by the passages of the Souldiery that people felt afterwards their license so much more intolerable as they had not been accustomed to it Nothing was heard of but extortions and oppressions Churches profaned Women ravished goods taken by violence to which excesses the Chiefs making no reparation an opinion was raised that Olivares to impose under the title of necessary defence the yoak upon that Province willingly suffered it Sure it is that the Count of Saint Coloma the Vice-Roy instigated by frequent Letters from him to draw men and money from that Province under the countenance of the Army without sticking at their priviledges and expecting the consent of the States seized in Barcelona upon certain money which belonged to the disposal of the City and because one of the Jurates the most considerable Magistrate opposed so great a License and insisted that the extravagances also of the Souldiery might be punished he imprisoned him This was enough to put a people into commotion which suffered obedience but was not yet acquainted with slavery Arms were taken the Prisons opened a torrent of people in the Streets with so great and universal a tumult that the Vice-Roy frighted thought his safety only placed in running away He therefore gets into the Arsenal where being as little secure for the people putting fire to the Pallace sought him over all he caused a Galley to come near the shoar but while he was going to the Sea side to imbarque being overtaken by the Mutineers was killed The people now partly terrified by their own excess partly inveigled and confounded amidst the apprehensions of slavery and the appearances of liberty judged that there was no place left for repentance nor for the Kings clemency Shaking off the yoak then they ran out into extremities and the confusion being not able to subsist of it self an independent Government was formed with a Council of an hundred joined to the other ancient Magistrates of the City Upon such an example almost all the Country fell into a commotion and the Towns and Villages universally taking Arms killed and forced to fly all those that were native Spaniards The mind of the Condé Duke at so unexpected an accident being greatly disordered he neither durst make it known to the King nor could it be concealed He endeavours to make him believe that it was nothing but a
undertaking to be dead the others weak and in a fright Spain turmoiled in so many parts and Lamboy constrained to repair to the relief of Flanders endeavoured to find his safety in the Kings favour whereupon he stipulates an accord obtaining neutrality for the Town pardon for himself and all the party except the Duke of Guise and the Baron de Bech Some of the male-contents returned to their Houses others would not at all trust themselves there but dispersed into several Provinces or went into those of Flanders leaving to the Cardinal the merit or the fortune to have though thus a loser subdued the Rebellion without intermitting in so many other parts the assisting his Friends and offending his Enemies The Siege of Air was in this interim carried on with great earnest in such sort that besides infinite other factions one and the same Half-moon was gained and lost several times But remaining at last in the power of the French gave them means to press the Town more powerfully gain the Ditch and after mines and assaults to fix a lodgment upon a Bastion And now the place capitulated the afflicting the County of Boulloin and the Country thereabouts with great incursions having not at all availed the Spaniards for the removing Meilleray from the Siege Ghenep was also rendred to Orange upon the same day that Aire was taken but the French retained that Conquest but a very short space For the Cardinal Infante joined with Lamboy straitned it so closely that Meilleray wanting victuals was hardly able to withdraw himself leaving the place unrepaired and provided Whereupon the Spaniards entring into the Trenches and Posts abandoned by the French at the instance of the neighbouring Provinces who fearing the oppressions of the Enemy offered men and money Aire was again besieged La Meilleray having not been able to thrust in succours from Terrouane attacques la Bassen and the gaining of it proved an easie Conquest Lens was likewise rendred to the Mareshal de Brezé and Baupaume defended it self but nine days Flanders besides was harrassed and Armentiers threatned Fontenay who had the body of an Army being not able to hinder it because Orange on the other side gave jealousie to the Sas of Ghent and made shew as if he would pass the Water-courses thereabout But the Spaniards esteemed the recovery of Aire to be preferred before all they had lost and at last took it about the end of the year But yet those Provinces enjoyed not an entire contentment for the Cardinal Infante dies to the extream grief of the Souldiery and of the People He at his entry into those Countries had gained a great applause because laying aside that loftiness and gravity which seems contracted by the Princes in the Court of Spain he had to the excellent prerogatives of piety and virtue added courtesie and affability to the Flemmings most especially acceptable Nor failed they at Madrid to conceive jealousie at it the Governments far distant being always suspected especially when administred by Princes of the blood Royal and supported by Arms knowing withall that the French had oftentimes by offering him to Wife the Daughter of the Duke of Orleans tempted him to make himself Master of those Countries assuring him of all their own Forces and those of Holland The French in this conjuncture conceived certain hopes of a revolt in the Provinces and the King comes with the Cardinal to the Frontiers but they remained quiet and suffering rather than contented with their new Governour that was Francisco de Melo In Germany a Diet was this year held at Ratisbone called by the Emperour to the end to break another more jealous assembly which the Princes of the Empire had a mind to have at Franckefort but the Emperour found himself there in great danger For Banier with a speedy march being come from Erfordt near to Ratisbone the Danube being frozen began to cause his men to pass over it environing that City with great hopes to take the Emperour Prisoner or at least besiege him and dissipate the Diet. The defence being disposed in much haste and disorder the River by special favour from Heaven was in a short space so thawed that Banier being obliged to halt on the other side those which had passed were beaten and made Prisoners Banier moves thence and going to Cham had the good luck to take it Piccolomini having beset Schlang Felt Marshal and given time to the Arch-Duke to come up with the Body to receive the honour of the action obliges him to render himself together with four thousand Horse all Prisoners The Swedes in this manner weakned were forced to retreat pressed by the Arch-Duke and to say truth Banier made his most excellent conduct appear in that being inferiour in Forces and retreating with the Enemy always in sight and in passing the River Egra he received not the least disadvantage but being come to Halverstadt surprised with a great sickness he there dies The Swedes were every where pressed and pursued by the Imperialists when the Count of Guebrian who had succeeded Longueville in the command of the Weimarians moving that Army brought them a seasonable relief The strong place of Wolfenbutel in the Dukedom of Luneburg was now straitly besieged by the Protestants and Piccolomini being come near to attempt the relief of it was repulsed with a very considerable blow Nevertheless strong resistance being still made the aggressors were forced to retire On the other side Dorsten in Westphalia fell into the hands of Hatzfeldt All these successes served rather to protract the War than to end it though it appeared that the Negotiations for the Peace were something more than formerly facilitated for that the Emperour at last consented to the satisfaction of the confederate Crowns the safe conducts for the Princes of the Empire and at the interposition of the King of Denmark was in Hamburg by Lutzau d' Ava and Salvins Ministers of the Emperour France and the Swedes a Treaty concluded which was called of the Preliminaries by which the Assembly which formerly was to have been held in Colen being transported to Munster and Osnaburg Cities which were left Neutral and without Garrison it was agreed that in the former should be transacted all that which belonged to the Austrians France and Holland and in the latter the interest of Swede and its Confederates with the Emperour and his Adherents But when things were thought in a readiness to give a beginning to the managements of the Peace other difficulties arose and the Emperour thought to clear them by publishing in Ratisbone an Amnesty or general Oblivion or Pardon of things past but he rather increased them for by excluding the cause of the Palatine by remitting it to a particular Treaty many declared themselves not satisfied Amidst these universal agitations the Republick of Venice restored to quiet felt only some little disturbance for private contests betwixt Borderers in Dalmatia occasioned by the exceeding ill will of Ali Bei